158: Ambient Conditions Issue
Definition/Typical Issues
Was the incident caused by excessive exposure of personnel to a hot or cold environment? Was poor ventilation (i.e., poor air quality or inadequate air velocity) a contributor to the incident? Was the effect of rain, snow, etc., a factor?
Was the incident caused because illumination levels were not sufficient for task performance? Did the level of illumination vary greatly over a given work station? Was the error caused by failure to provide supplemental lighting for personnel performing specialized visual tasks in areas in which fixed illumination was not adequate? Was there shadowing of labels, instructions, or other written information? Was there a problem with glare or reflection? If the event occurred during an emergency situation, such as loss of power, was emergency lighting inadequate?
Was the incident caused by diminished human performance caused by excessive noise? Were personnel unable to hear auditory signals or alarms because of excessive background noise? Did auditory distraction, irritation, or fatigue of personnel result from excessive noise?
Examples
Example 1
- During an extreme cold spell, a mechanic damaged an expensive piece of equipment by dropping a tool into its moving parts. Even though the mechanic was wearing gloves, his hands were so cold that he was unable to get a firm grip on the tool.
Example 2
- A serious incident occurred when glare caused by improper overhead lighting prevented an operator from detecting that an important alarm was illuminated.
Example 3
- During a loss of power event, an operator was injured while attempting to troubleshoot the emergency generator. Lighting levels from the control room to the generator were insufficient, and he tripped on the forks of a forklift on his way to the generator.
Example 4
- A computer operator failed to respond to a system alarm because background noise from the computer's cooling fans masked the auditory alarm signal.
Example 5
- A jackhammer operator was injured when he dropped his jackhammer on his foot. He had been using the tool for several hours without relief, and the constant vibration caused his hands to "fall asleep." This weakened his grip and caused him to lose control of the jackhammer.
Example 6
- Working in a confined space contributed to an incident because personnel rushed through the job to get out of the high-risk environment.
Typical Recommendations
- Ensure that indoor work areas are adequately ventilated and heated/cooled.
- Allow personnel to take frequent breaks if they are required to work in an uncontrolled, uncomfortable climate for extended periods of time.
- Consider the need for roofing or walls over work areas for which protection from wind and precipitation reduces the hazards of operation and maintenance.
- Solicit comments from employees regarding workstation lighting. Appropriately address any comments received.
- Provide glare-free screens for computer monitors.
- Conduct an emergency drill at night and use emergency lighting. Solicit employee feedback to determine whether or not the lighting is adequate for emergency operations/evacuation.
- Install additional equipment to diminish workplace noise when possible (e.g., mufflers, sound enclosures).
- Post danger signs in areas in which noise is in excess of 85 dB to alert employees to wear hearing protection in those areas.
- Ensure that emergency alarms and the emergency public address system can be heard throughout the process area.
- When possible, reduce certain physiological and psychological stresses such as:
- Pain or discomfort caused by seating, etc.
- Hunger or thirst
- Vibration
- Movement constriction
- Disruption of circadian rhythm
- Perceived threat (e.g., of failure or job loss)
- Monotonous, degrading, or meaningless work
Cross-References
| Version 10 Element(s) | |
|---|---|
| Node ID | Node Name |
| 152 | Ambient Conditions LTA |
| 154 | Other Environmental Stresses Excessive |
| Maritime Element(s) | |
|---|---|
| Node ID | Node Name |
| 159 | Ambient Conditions Issue |
| 163 | Tool Issue |